The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is a city of bewitching charm, nestled in a cityscape with a fairy-tale yet gloomy atmosphere that makes it utterly irresistible.
Nestled in a hilly area just like Rome’s Caput Mundi, Edinburgh is a unique city that, even in recent years, has been able to resist the advance of progress, maintaining an old-world image with its Gothic charm and the enchanting contrast between the Old Town’s maze of winding alleys and the New Town’s Georgian elegance.
The city’s past is juxtaposed with a vibrant focus on the present, with a prestigious arts scene and a range of events that make it one of Europe’s most exciting cultural hubs. In August, the Scottish capital reaches peak animation and is cloaked in an exciting festive air with the Edinburgh International Festival, a celebrated theatrical event.
Let’s see what are the main things to visit in and around Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Castle
Erected in the 7th century on top of an extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle seems to grow organically from living rock, dominating the city skyline with its imposing bulk. Throughout its long history, it has been both a military fortress and seat of government, prison, arsenal, and royal residence. The castle is open to the public, and during your visit, you can see the Stone of Scone, Scottish royal insignia, and massive medieval cannons, such as the Mons Meg.
Edinburgh Castle is now home to the Scottish National War Museum and the Scottish National War Memorial. Inside you can also see the famous Pet Cemetery, a small graveyard of animals that belonged to the various monarchs.
Calton Hill
A volcanic spur that rises next to the New Town, right where Princes Street ends, Calton Hill is the ideal location to capture Edinburgh in all its gloomy splendor, especially at sunset. Also visible in the distance is the iconic red steel railway bridge called Forth Bridge, a marvel of the industrial age officially declared part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. Definitely, one of the beleviest things to see in Edinburgh!
Still, on the subject of contrasts, several monuments clearly inspired by Greek art stand on the hill, which has earned the city the nickname Athens of the North.
Holyrood Park
At the end of the Royal Mile, the picturesque thoroughfare that slices through Edinburgh’s Old Town, lies Holyrood Park, a wooded area of outstanding beauty that, in its 650 acres, is home to lakes, hills, valleys, and an idyllic nature reserve where herons, swans, and rare Great Crested Grebes live. Although owned by the Crown, Holyrood Park is open to the public year-round. Visitors are only asked to keep a safe distance from Holyroodhouse Palace when royalty resides there. In our opinion, a stroll through this enchanting natural oasis that seems light years away from the city is not to be missed among the things to do in Edinburgh!
Arthur’s Seat
Towering above Holyrood Park is Arthur’s Seat, a volcanic cone over 250 meters high. Following the paths set up, it is possible to reach the summit in an hour of not overly strenuous walking. The 360-degree view of the city of Edinburgh and the Lothian region from the top will take your breath away. Witnessing the sunrise from the top of Arthur Seat is a thrill we absolutely recommend everyone experience at least once during their stay in Edinburgh.
And there’s more. In the winter months, if you’re lucky and the skies are clear, it’s not out of the question that you might even see the Northern Lights, which in Scotland tend to take on enchanting hues in shades of red.
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Greyfriars Kirkyard cemetery
It may seem curious to mention a graveyard among the top things to visit in Edinburgh, but trust us, a walk to Greyfriars Kirkyard cemetery, behind Grassmarket square at the foot of the castle, is one of the most evocative, extraordinary, and memorable experiences one can have in the Scottish capital. The many centuries-old moss-covered headstones set against a picturesque backdrop of emerald green grass, trees and stone paths create a spectacle of unparalleled beauty.
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Surroundings of Edinburgh
During a stay in these parts, we absolutely recommend a detour to Glasgow, a dynamic, cosmopolitan, fast-paced city that certainly does not possess the uniqueness and classical luster of Edinburgh, but thanks to a massive urban regeneration and redevelopment effort has been able to revive its image internationally and confirm its role as the economic capital of Scotland. Edinburgh and Glasgow, although they are only 70 kilometers apart and arise in all-too-similar environmental and geographical settings, have taken completely different paths of development, proving that civilizations can shape different spaces.
Quensferry South and Dean Village
On the outskirts of Edinburgh, the picturesque town of South Quensferry, overlooking the Firth of Forth, a charming inlet created by the Forth River estuary on the North Sea, is ideal for an out-of-town excursion in which to breathe sea air in full force.
Other things to see in Edinburgh in 3 days include Dean Village, an adorable mining hamlet on the banks of the River Leith, founded by the friars of Holyrood Abbey in the 12th century and left virtually untouched ever since.
Castles near Edinburgh
In the Scottish Western Highlands lies one of the most beautiful castles near Edinburgh, Eilean Donan Castle, an ancient bastion of defense against Viking assaults built on a small island connected to the mainland by a bridge. It is one of the most photogenic and Instagrammable attractions in the region, where some scenes from the movie “Highlander” starring Christopher Lambert and Sir Sean Connery, goodman.
Stirling Castle, in the town of the same name an hour or so from the capital, is also definitely worth a visit. It is one of the largest and most impressive castles not only in Scotland but in the entire European landscape. On a hill in the vicinity of Stirling you can also admire the tower dedicated to the medieval hero William Wallace, masterfully played by Mel Gibson in the award-winning film Braveheart.
General information about Edinburgh
The official currency of Scotland is the British pound. The official language is English, but it should be pointed out that the inflection, timbre and accent that characterize Scottish speech can make understanding and communication difficult. The narrow dialect is almost completely unintelligible. Even those with a good grasp of English may have to make a little extra effort.
The hands of the clock in Edinburgh are set back one hour from Italy.
The Scottish capital has an excellent network of international connections and is linked to major Italian cities with daily flights. Edinburgh Airport is the largest airport in the region and is located about ten kilometers from the city center.
Compared to other British and European destinations, the city of Edinburgh is not particularly expensive, and most museums and attractions are accessible for free.
